Fall River residents near King Philip Mill Complex ask city about plans to protect property from fire issues

Wednesday

Jul 23, 2014 at 6:11 PMJul 23, 2014 at 7:54 PM

Jo C. Goode Herald News Staff Reporter @jgoodeHN

FALL RIVER — A handful of neighborhood leaders from the South End gave a strong message Tuesday to the city: Now that the administration owns the King Philip Mill Complex, it’s responsible for protecting residents from a potential fire disaster.

“We are totally unarmed — totally unarmed — and not protected at that building, unfortunately. I hate to say that,” said state Rep. Alan Silvia, who is president of the South End Neighborhood Association.

Silvia’s comments were made during a City Council Committee on Public Safety meeting held to update the committee on the safety status of the behemoth complex. Except for one business, the complex is empty.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently released a report that identifies hazardous and combustible material in 50 large drums inside the three-building complex. The agency plans to begin cleaning up the materials and will fund the effort.

The complex's lone business, Crown Linen, is moving out by mid-August, according to attorney Matthew Thomas. Thomas was hired by the city to take the business in a tax title in Land Court.

The case was filed against the former owner David Chow in 2011, and the city gained possession on June 13 with a tax title of $520,000. The city plans to develop some of the property and sell off most of the complex site to recoup back taxes.

Once Crown Linen leaves, a fire watch at the property, paid for by the company, will also stop. Currently, one fire watcher works seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is no one at the site during the weekend.

Three weeks ago, Silvia said, a female squatter was arrested in one of the upper floors of the mill complex, and a video of two police officers taking the woman into custody was taken by a fire watcher on duty that night. Silvia, who said the fire watcher was helping police make their way around the mill, provided a copy of the video to The Herald News.

While grainy and dark, the video shows an area of the mill with several mattresses on the floor, some covered with colorful comforters and placed next to tables with candles. The electricity and all utilities are shut to the complex.

The police officers found the woman in one of the beds, with a bottle of alcohol and drug paraphernalia on a bedside table. After several struggles with the woman, the police officers are seen walking around a maze of walls, large rooms and staircases in the darkened mill.

“Right now — although that may be valuable property in the future — it’s a death trap at this moment,” Silvia said.

Heather Gouveia, 26, was arrested on June 26 and is facing charges of breaking and entering and trespassing, and was wanted on a number of warrants.

City Councilor Michael Miozza said he was very concerned with the safety at the mill, with 50 drums identified as containing flammable material, no sprinklers or smoke detectors, a history of arson and recent fire department cuts.

Miozza asked City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros what the city planned to do to protect residents living near King Philip Mill.

Viveiros said Crown Linen would continue to pay for fire watchers until September.

“The city didn’t own the property before. We didn’t have the liability, and we didn’t know what chemicals were there. ... So we have a different scenario today,” Miozza said.

Jane Darcy, who lives across from the property, said a lot of people go in and out of the complex. She questioned Fire Chief Robert Viveiros about a fire department-ordered fire watch at a property that was 4 acres.

Viveiros said he could order a fire watch if he felt a building is unprotected property.

“So, in your assessment, with no sprinkler systems, with no fire alarms and 4 acres, what would you feel comfortable — being in the position you are — what should the fire watch be on that building?” Darcy said.

“When Crown Linen is gone, I think it should be two men,” Viveiros said.

“Twenty-four hours?” Darcy asked.

“Twenty-four hours,” Viveiros said.

“Seven days a week?” Darcy said.

“Yes,” Viveiros said.

The safety committee agreed to hold another meeting within three weeks and before the anticipated closure of Crown Linen on Aug. 15 for an update on the mill.